Domantas Sabonis struggles against Thunder, Nikola Jovic emerges as day-to-day

By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net

Pulling away in the fourth quarter, the Oklahoma City Thunder prevailed, 121-105, over the Sacramento Kings in Golden 1 Center and recorded their 60th win in the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season.

With French Ousmane Dieng (left calf strain), Belgian Ajay Mitchell (right great toe surgery), and Serbian Nikola Topic (left knee surgery) stuck to the injury list, the remaining European option, German Isaiah Hartenstein playing through a nasal fracture, went for four points, ten rebounds, five assists, and two blocks, lasting 27 minutes as the starting center. Scoring 32 points, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander fueled a seventh straight win.

“It has been a crazy month. Energy is not there, conditioning, trying to get my rhythm back,” Lithuanian Domantas Sabonis commented on recent injuries and facing a brilliant defensive effort on Tuesday. He finished with eight points behind 3/12 field goals, 12 rebounds, seven assists, one block, and one steal. Fellow Lithuanian import Jonas Valanciunas, settled at two points, two rebounds, and one assist.

Serbian Nikola Jovic (right hand fracture) was medically cleared and labeled as day-to-day in terms of returning to action but sat out as the Miami Heat cruised past the Golden State Warriors and Jimmy Butler, 112-86, in Kaseya Center. Swedish Pelle Larsson squeezed in five points in three minutes. Reduced to a reserve role by the Warriors, Dutch Quinten Post had three points, three assists, and one rebound.

German Franz Wagner produced 26 points, eight rebounds, and four assists for the Orlando Magic in a win, 111-104, against the Charlotte Hornets in Spectrum Center. Georgian Goga Bitadze registered two points, nine rebounds, and two assists. In contrast, German Tristan da Silva did not play, in addition to German Moritz Wagner (left knee surgery) remaining on the sidelines.

Three European players came off the bench for the team coached by Charles Lee. French Tidjane Salaun lasted over 25 minutes, combining eight points with seven rebounds. In just under 20 minutes, Bosnian Jusuf Nurkic ended up with five points, five rebounds, three assists, and two blocks. French Moussa Diabate was limited to eight seconds.

In Toyota Center, the Houston Rockets narrowly held on after jumping to a 25-point lead to beat the Atlanta Hawks, 121-114. Turkish Alperen Sengun threw in 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists, one block, and one assist. A 32-point, 11-rebound double-double by Jalen Green stood out for the team coached by Ime Udoka.

Retaining his starter spot and logging 23 minutes, French Zaccharie Risacher had 18 points, four rebounds, and one assist for the Hawks. Lasting nearly 12 minutes off the bench, Czech Vit Krejci stretched for five points, one block, one assist, and one rebound. Swiss Clint Capela (left fourth metacarpal ligament sprain) remained sidelined.

Starting for the Memphis Grizzlies, Spanish Santi Aldama tallied nine points, five rebounds, and three assists in a lopsided win, 140-103, over the Utah Jazz in Delta Center. For the hosts, Ukrainian Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk paired one rebound with one assist, and Finnish Lauri Markkanen (illness) missed a second straight game.

Hosting the Eastern Conference leaders, Cleveland Cavaliers, in Moda Center, the Portland Trail Blazers suffered a loss, 122-111. Israeli Deni Avdija posted a 17-point, 10-rebound double-double alongside six assists and one steal. Fellow starter, Belgian Toumani Camara, went for 13 points, four rebounds, three steals, and one assist.

Tuesday results

Charlotte Hornets – Orlando Magic 104-111
Detroit Pistons – San Antonio Spurs 122-96
Miami Heat – Golden State Warriors 112-86
New York Knicks – Dallas Mavericks 128-113
Houston Rockets – Atlanta Hawks 121-114
Utah Jazz – Memphis Grizzlies 103-140
Portland Trail Blazers – Cleveland Cavaliers 111-122
Sacramento Kings – Oklahoma City Thunder 105-121

Standings

Eastern Conference

1. p-Cleveland Cavaliers 58-14
2. p-Boston Celtics 53-19
3. New York Knicks 45-26
4. Indiana Pacers 42-29
5. Milwaukee Bucks 40-31
6. Detroit Pistons 41-32
7. Atlanta Hawks 35-37
8. Orlando Magic 35-38
9. Chicago Bulls 32-40
10. Miami Heat 31-41
11. Toronto Raptors 25-47
12. Brooklyn Nets 23-49
13. Philadelphia 76ers 23-49
14. e-Charlotte Hornets 18-54
15. e-Washington Wizards 15-56

Western Conference

1. p-Oklahoma City Thunder 60-12
2. Houston Rockets 47-26
3. Denver Nuggets 45-28
4. Memphis Grizzlies 44-28
5. Los Angeles Lakers 43-28
6. Golden State Warriors 41-31
7. Los Angeles Clippers 40-31
8. Minnesota Timberwolves 41-32
9. Sacramento Kings 35-37
10. Phoenix Suns 35-37
11. Dallas Mavericks 35-38
12. Portland Trail Blazers 32-41
13. San Antonio Spurs 31-40
14. e-New Orleans Pelicans 20-53
15. e-Utah Jazz 16-57

-The top six teams from each conference clinch a berth in the Playoffs
-Teams ranking seventh to tenth advance to the Play-Ins

p-clinched a playoff berth
e-eliminated

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